Pond Aeration Costs

This is a great question and the answer can be very simple or very complex. In a nutshell, cost is determined by a combination of up front capital investment, annual operating costs, annual maintenance costs and projected life expectancy.

Up front capital invested can range from as low as $500 for a small, shallow pond aeration system to as much as $8,000 or more for a larger system or a solar aerator. Operating cost is dependent on the number of amps needed to power an electric motor multiplied by the electricity cost in your area. Maintenance cost and life expectancy are the most subjective because of variability. Some electric aerators might run for 2-3 years without any major issues and others might run 5-7 years or longer.

The table below is based on a set of assumptions that is fairly representative of actual costs for a 1 to 2 acre pond or small lake. The average annual cost ranges from a low of $150.00 for a windmill aerator to $700.00 for a high quality solar unit taking into consideration all annual costs + depreciation over a given products life expectancy. Each of these options has a place depending on what the objectives are for a given body of water.

Outdoor Water Solutions offers several electric aerator options as well as a broad range of windmill aerators. For smaller ponds that are less than 1 acre in size and no more than 8 feet deep, you can purchase one of our LD 1.5 aerators for around $395.00. For ponds that are deeper than 8 feet or are between ¼ acre and 3 acres in size, you can purchase one of our AerMaster’s or AerMaster Deluxe’s for $895 or $1,295. The AerMasters come with a full three year warranty which is longer than most other electric aerators on the market.

If you’re looking for the lowest annual cost option, then it is hard to beat one of our wind driven aerators. These systems range in price from about $1,495 for a 20’ Galvanized windmill up to about $3,500 for our top of the line customized powder coated windmill with a 25’ Telescopic pole. We use a high quality galvanized steel designed to last a minimum of 15 years and probably much longer. Regarding maintenance costs, you can replace the diaphragm and check valves ($39.95) every 4-5 years if needed. Our compressors with their patent pending “BalCam” Technology carry a 5 year warranty on the crankshaft, piston and bearings. This is the longest in the aeration industry.

There is a new option available for those of you that want to take advantage of wind or solar and still have continuous aeration available 24 hours a day. With our new Aerator Control Box, you can combine a windmill or solar aerator with any electric aerator and operate both through the same airline and diffusers. This is a new product in the pond aeration industry and is a real breakthrough in technology! When the wind blows, your pond or lake is aerated by the windmill aerator. When the wind stops, the contol box automatically turns on your electric aerator to continue the aeration process. When the wind picks back up, the Aerator Control Box will turn off the electric aerator. This saves you money on electricity as well as wear and tear on your electric unit.